J-K: Police sets up 24/7 helpline to check rumour-mongering

Srinagar, Jan 22: Days after rumours about pulse- polio immunisation sparked panic among parents, police on Jan 21 announced that it was setting up a 24/7-helpline to counter such instances of circulation of false information.

A 24-hour helpline has been set up at the police control room to allow people to cross-check relevant information, a police officer said.

The helpline has been set up to counter rumour mongers who are using social networking sites to spread false and fabricated information, he added.

People can call the Police Control Room on 100, 0194- 2506506, 2506507 and 2506508, at any time 24/7 to verify information, the officer said.

It has been observed that some rumour mongers are sharing incorrect and false information on social media through Facebook, twitter and Whatsapp to create panic among the public, he said.

The helpline has been set up to thwart such elements and deal with the dissemination of false, incorrect and fabricated information on social media.

Thousands of worried parents rushed their kids to various hospitals across the Valley on January 17 as rumours spread on social networking sites and messaging applications that several children had died after being administered polio vaccine drops earlier in the day.

Subsequently, over a dozen persons were detained by police in connection with the scare-mongering about polio immunisation although no arrests have been made so far.

Several FIRs have been registered at various police stations in the Valley in this connection, including one each in south Kashmir's Pampore town and Baramulla in north Kashmir.

PTI